This photo is one of my absolute favorites. An accomplishment in both composition, lighting and planning it is a hidden gem of industrial photography. Hidden because it wasn’t published until 2009. « Read the rest of this entry »

Rasmus has been in and out of the hospital for as long as I can remember. He’s kind of large for a rodent, he doesn’t say much, but he’s a likable fellow. For the last three years I have photographed him in all around the hospital, but the doctors don’t seem to find out what’s wrong with him. He’s had blood tests, bone scintigraphy and a PET-scan. He’s had a cardiac catheterization and high-dose chemotherapy. A few months ago he even underwent craniofacial surgery. What’s even worse is he’ll probably have to go through a bunch of other procedures in the years to come, and no one will get any wiser.

If it wasn’t for the fact that Rasmus (“mus” means mouse in Norwegian) is Oslo University Hospital’s mascot for children, and the star of numerous info leaflets, I’d be really worried.

There are not many published textbooks on the subject of medical photography, and no comprehensive books have been published after the digital revolution. That doesn’t mean the books that do exist are all outdated. Here are four textbooks we keep at our department and from time to time consult on different matters. Although dated, the books all offer relevant information on positioning of patients, best lighting practices for various conditions and ethical considerations. « Read the rest of this entry »

The ladder makes it possible to photograph operations without disturbing the surgeon.

Photographing in the operating room using the ladder.

Schematic representation of the ladder with the surgical team.

Photo of the surgical field using a 65 mm lens.

Photo of the surgical field using a 135 mm lens.

Photo of the surgical field using a 200 mm lens.

The pictures above and the following text are taken from the article “Aufgaben und Probleme der medizinischen Photographie” (Tasks and problems in medical photography) by Wolfgang Müller and Waldemar Wirth. The article was published in two parts in the February and April 1967 issues of Visum – Das medizinische Bildjournal (Visum – the medical visual journal). « Read the rest of this entry »

A year back I wrote a post on the use of mirrors in vintage medical photos, with most examples from the American Civil War. The common photographic technique of that time was the tintype photograph. Check out this video from the George Eastman House to see how the process was done.

The university celebrated its 200th anniversary last year. Twelve of the institution’s photographers from several different faculties decided to document work and celebration during the main anniversary week in September.

I photographed different activities at my institute, the Institute of Clinical Medicine, and seven of those photos have ended up on the walls of the gallery, together with fifty-three others from museums, campus life and other institutes.